Happy Holidays!

Hey! Nice to see you back here. Clearly, you survived at least the first round of holiday festivities this last weekend. Not that I doubted you, but we all know how stressful, crazy, (am I allowed to say annoying at times?), and out of control the holidays can be, especially when you have a whole lot of related people crammed in what is probably not enough space. In my case, however, things were just perfect this Christmas. I didn’t go anywhere or make a big fuss out of much. I simply focused on being home and spending quality time with the people I love the most. We ate, we drank, we baked, and of course, exchanged gifts. I could not have asked for a time better well spent.

I certainly hope that your Christmas holiday was just as joyful as mine. Unfortunately, time off never seems to last long enough. I’ll be back to work tomorrow for at least most of the week, but will certainly revert to party mode by Friday. Bring on the new year! I’m ready, are you? I have a ton of new ideas for 2023 and I’m chomping at the bit to get started. Do you have any big project goals in mind for the new year? How about small project goals? Let me know in the comments what your aspirations for this new quilting year are. I’d love to hear your ideas – I might even find some inspiration, you never know!

Speaking of new projects, have you had a chance to stock up on everything and anything you might need for any creative adventures you plan to start? Don’t forget that today is your last chance to get 25% OFF store/site-wide (new items are not included and have been removed from the website until after the sale is over). It’s a great time to stock up on your favorite Primitive Gatherings fabrics, threads, needles, patterns, kits, notions, and more! Click the button below to shop til your heart’s content!

As I mentioned above, there are several items we were not able to include in the sale because they are so new, so if you can’t find something on the website you know was just there last week, that’s most likely the reason why (for example, sewing machines and subscription boxes are also not included in the sale). Don’t forget – even though the retail shop is not open today due to the holiday, you can still shop! The sale includes both in-store and online merchandise.

I’d also like to take a second to remind everyone that the shop will also be closed on New Year’s day Sunday 1/1/23, Monday 1/2/23, and Tuesday 1/3/23 (we are open during our regular winter business hours on New Year’s Eve – Saturday 12/31/22). Here are our current holiday hours:….annnnd since we’re on the topic of store hours, please also keep in mind that our winter hours are now in effect and will be until April, 2023. They are as follows:For whatever reason, it seems that we can post these hours on all our social media outlets so many times it’s to the point of feeling obnoxious, yet somehow we always manage to miss someone. That being said, please remember to either call ahead or check the facebook pages for modified hours due to holidays, weather, etc. If you are planning a visit, we’d love to have you! But please make sure we are open before you make a long trip to see us. I can tell you the parking lot is extra big, and extra lonely when you’re the only one in it!

Ok everyone – enough working for today. The sun is shining and the birds are even singing. We’re sitting at a balmy 17º right now and it feels like we’re havin’ a heat wave after enduring sub-zero temps for the last several days. Our “real feel” temps were in the negative 40’s for a bit there, so now all of a sudden it feels like shorts weather. One of the perks of a cold snap like that I guess. You won’t hear me complaining about anything under 15º until maybe… next fall. Enjoy the rest of your day and I will see you all soon. Happy shopping…and stitching! ~Lisa

Baby it’s Really, REALLY Cold Outside!

Hey everyone – welcome back! If you are anywhere near me, I hope you’re making the most of this blustery and frigid day. I’m sure you heard by now that we decided to close the shop before it even had a chance to open this morning, due to some seriously nasty weather out there. Much to Nick’s delight, the snow seems to have subsided – at least for the moment – but that’s not really the issue either way. The real danger of a storm like this is the sub-zero temps paired up with some super strong winds, resulting in wind chill temperatures in the negative 40’s (yes, seriously). What makes it even crazier, is that the forecast is saying that by mid-week next week we’ll be up in the 40’s. I’m not even kidding – check it out! I really feel sorry for the arthritis sufferers out there – Nick included. He has not let me forget how much drastic changes in the weather make him ache all over, especially his shoulder. I do feel bad for him, especially since he’s been doing all the snow removal between Primitive Gatherings and Anchor Point. For those of you who aren’t from a snowy climate, what that basically means is he has to be up around 3-4:00 a.m. to start the first of many rounds of plowing the parking lot and clearing entry ways and sidewalks so our customers and staff can park and get into the building safely. He also has our house to worry about in between so that I can get where I need to go. It’s no wonder he’s pooped by mid-afternoon! Whether or not he gets any rest is always up to Mother Nature considering he’s at her mercy depending on how much snow she decides to send. I hope he knows I appreciate him. In fact, I feel like I might have a little crush… LOL Shout out to Nick – thank you for all you do!!!

Despite the shop being closed I hope you were all able to hop online and take advantage of the on-going 25% OFF FLASH Sale, going on now through Monday December 26th, 2022. If you missed out on all the great deals we had going on throughout the month of December, now is your time to do some catching up! Get 25% OFF store and site-wide (new items are not included and have been removed from the website until after the sale is over). Click the button below to shop til your heart’s content!

As I mentioned above, there are several new items we did not include in the sale because they are so new, so if you can’t find something on the website you know was just there yesterday, that’s most likely the reason (sewing machines and subscription boxes are also not included in the sale).

Well folks, you’d have to be absolutely crazy to be outdoors voluntarily for any extended period of time on a day like today. I mean, we’re no strangers to lots of snow and temps below zero but this is extreme and could be deadly in a matter of minutes. I spent my day inside with my family, cozy and happy as a clam. I managed to get some baking and a bit of present wrapping done, along with the finishing touches on my decorating. We don’t have any big plans for Christmas, just hanging out at home where we belong. I’ve learned just how over-rated traveling can be over the years and I really don’t need it anymore. I mean, I work hard all week to pay for this shack, so I like to spend time in it when I can!

Even Jax who usually gets the immediate zoomies in the snow is like… no thanks when it’s time to let him out in this garbage. I can’t say I blame him but on the other hand, I think he’s learning to enjoy the good life a little too much sometimes. Diva much? He’s certainly made himself right at home not only in our house but in our hearts… and has even won over the grooming lady by being the best dog ever during his first spa trip yesterday. Look at that face! He really is a great dog. They don’t come any better!

Alright everyone, I have cookies in the oven that I need to check on. Don’t forget, if you haven’t gotten everything off your wish list you still have until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, December 26th to get 25% off everything in stock at Primitive Gatherings! Want even more insight on what’s on sale? If you didn’t already watch, you can catch the replay of this week’s STITCH with Lisa Bongean on YouTube by hitting the link below. There is a lot of great information on upcoming events, subscriptions, what’s on sale, and more! Click below to watch! Have a wonderful Christmas eve eve friends. Stay warm and get some stitching in if you can. We all know it’s good for the soul! I will see you all back here soon. Happy holidays from me, Nick, and my entire staff at Primitive Gatherings! ~Lisa

 

 

Last Chance to SAVE 30% on Urban Farmhouse Gatherings II!

Hey everyone! Staying warm out there? If you’re anywhere near the midwest you are definitely experiencing some frigid temps this afternoon. I woke up to a big fat 0º goose egg on the thermometer this morning and it really hasn’t moved. Perfect stitching weather to say the least! If you haven’t already heard, today is your last chance to get 30% OFF Urban Farmhouse Gatherings II pre-cuts and select pillow kits! Click below to SHOP! Sale ends at midnight (remember that FLASH Sale details are also posted daily by 6:30 a.m. on both the public PG Facebook page and my STITCH Facebook group. If you are not already a member of the STITCH group, you must request to join in order to see the posts. It’s easy! Just answer the admin questions, wait for approval, and you’re in!).

Next on the agenda for today is some scheduling details I’d like to go over. Thank you to everyone who’s been paying attention and taking note that our holiday hours over Christmas and New Years will be different than normal. As you’ve probably seen, we have been posting those hours on a regular basis to our Primitive Gatherings Facebook page, my STITCH with Lisa Facebook page, here on the blog, as well as announcing it during our LIVE shows. Unfortunately, after the excellent job my social media department did distributing that information, of course we now need to make a slight change to it. Murphy’s law!

Originally we planned for the launch of our new website to be January 6th, 2023, but due to unforeseen circumstances we have run into a bit of a…snafu, if you will – with how it’s running. In other words, we just need a bit more time to smooth things out so that when we do finally launch, it will be working like a well-oiled machine. We have our fingers crossed that will be happening sometime this coming February. So what does that mean for you? PLEASE BE AWARE that we will be CLOSED December 24th – December 26th, 2022. We will also be CLOSED January 1st through January 3rd, 2023. We will reopen for regular business hours on January 4th, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. CST. The website will NOT be going down during this time and will remain up and running as usual until further notice. We will announce upcoming “website under construction” times closer to that date, hopefully in February.

If you didn’t already hear, you should also know that our winter hours are now in effect, and will be until April 2nd, 2023. Our regular winter hours are as follows:

Next up, due to some scheduling conflicts, we’ve also had some changes happen to our upcoming events calendar at The Gathering. Quilting for Beginners is CANCELED until further notice. We are hoping to add more classes in later winter or spring so please stay tuned for those details. If you have any questions, please call Gloria or Lori at The Gathering at 920.778.8031 for more information.

Unfortunately we also need to cancel our next Sit & Stitch session, which was scheduled for this Tuesday, December 27th, 2022. Our next available session will be January 10th, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. The cost is $25.00 per person with lunch included. As usual, seating is limited so if you’d like to sign up or need more information, call The Gathering at 920.778.8031.Hopefully that will be it for a while, but as always if there are any other changes or announcements you can find those here on my blog and on our Primitive Gatherings Facebook page, my STITCH with Lisa Facebook page, and here on my blog. We also make important announcements during our LIVE show, so be sure to tune in for those, which you can do by clicking the STITCH button below! Speaking of LIVE, my next STITCH with Lisa Bongean broadcast will be at 1:00 p.m. CST on my YouTube channel and I can tell you right now that you reallllly don’t want to miss this one!

As you know we’ve had daily flash sales going on pretty much daily all month as a way to say thanks for being such great customers and loyal fans – and of course to say happy holidays from me and my crew here at Primitive Gatherings! Going forward, there will not be a FLASH sale tomorrow, but I will be giving a special announcement about what the rest of the month will entail tomorrow during STITCH with Lisa Bongean,” so don’t miss it! All you have to do to tune in is hit the STITCH button below!

Well friends, as I’m looking out my studio window I can definitely tell that winter storm Elliott is starting to approach. We started out so sunny and clear but now the cloud cover is starting thicken and the air seems balmy compared to what it was just a couple of hours ago. According to my weather app it might actually hit 10º by bed time tonight as the clouds continue to roll in and thicken. I’ve seen some pretty impressive snow total predictions throughout the day between all the different weather resources I use so it will be interesting to see if we actually get any. There have been a few too many times in recent winters where we’re promised a “doozy” of a storm and barely see a flurry, so I’m really hoping this isn’t one of those times. After all, there is something extra special about a blizzard over Christmas. It’s like magic!

Before we wrap it up for the day, in the true spirit of the giving season I think we should give away DOUBLE prizes this week! Judy D., Jenny M., Helen L., and Diane M. – Congratulations, Christmas just came early for you. You are the lucky winners! Like always I did not post last names or email addresses for your privacy, so if you made a comment here on the blog last week and think you’re one of the lucky winners, please be sure to check your email. You can also contact Heidi at heidin@primitivegatherings.us if you have not already received a prize confirmation letter from her. She will use your email address to confirm that you are in fact the winner (if you think you are a winner but have not received a prize confirmation email, please be sure to check your spam folder – it’s not often but our emails occasionally will end up there)! Want to be considered for a prize? You know the drill! Leave me a comment for your chance to win. You can also win by commenting during STITCH with Lisa Bongean,” as well so be sure tomorrow when I spill the beans on what I have in store for you for the remainder of the year. Click below to watch. See you there ~Lisa

Are you Crazy for Garden Gatherings? Today is your day!

Happy Tuesday to you! We started out with more snow early this morning but the sun is shining now – even if only for a minute. Apparently, our pal Mother Nature isn’t done yet, since we are supposed to see up to another 15″ of the white stuff in the next couple of days. Plus, it’s COLD! We’re sitting at about 15º right now with windchills at -2º. Tonight we’ll see actual temps dip below zero for the second time already this year, with blizzard conditions heading our way for the rest of the week. I’m not worried though, as I keep saying – bring on the snow! My new skis are officially on order and will take at least a week to be ready to go. It’s actually perfect timing. By next week, temps are supposed to be back in the upper 20s, which is perfect weather for winter sports. I’m really looking forward to getting out there!

December is really whizzing by, isn’t it? I’ve been having a lot of fun with our daily FLASH Sales and really hope you have been able to take advantage. If you missed out on a the awesome deal we had a couple weeks back on my Garden Gatherings fabric line and have been kicking yourself ever since, it’s your lucky day! Due to popular demand I decide to put it on SALE again! Today only take 30% OFF Garden Gatherings pre-cuts and select quilt kits! Quantities of Garden Gatherings Kits are extremely low at this time, so if you see one you really like don’t wait! It’s probably not going to be there for long. Click the button above to see what’s available! You’ll also find the complete selection of available Garden Gatherings pre-cuts along with a few other random specials we decided to throw in as a little bonus for shopping with us. Remember – FLASH Sale details are also posted daily by 6:30 a.m. on both the PG Facebook page and my STITCH Facebook group. You can also find them by visiting our website. Click “NEW ITEMS” and then FLASH Sale to see the daily deal!!!

Well everyone, they’re telling me it’s lunch time so I better go eat before I miss the boat. Have a great day and I will see you LIVE Thursday at 1:00 p.m. CST on my STITCH with Lisa Bongean YouTube channel. I’ll be talking about some end of the year details you don’t want to miss. Click the STITCH button below to watch, and I will see you there! ~Lisa

December 18th – Double Deal Day

Good morning from snowy and cold WI! It finally stopped snowing just a couple of hours ago after a three days storm, and man is it pretty out there! I’m excited to put all this perfect fresh snow to good use once I get my new skis in the next week or two. Heidi and I have narrowed it down to a couple of potential pairs, so now the next step is simply pulling the trigger. Once I make my final decision, they’ll need to be mounted and set for my weight and skill level. I’m getting VERY excited. It’s been a hot minute since I had new skis so this should be great – and if we continue to have snow like we just saw over the last couple of days, this season is going to be one for the books! I’ll keep you posted as we go!

Alright, let’s get down to business and go over the real reason you’re here – FLASH Sale details! Looking for a simple, fun, and FAST Christmas project? Today is your day!!! TODAY ONLY get my Yuletide Gatherings Patchwork Panel for only $7.79 each! The panel can be used to create quilts, pillows, runners, hanging décor, and more! Click below to get it now!

Looking for something a bit more personal and challenging? Why not make a Christmas quilt from my Yuletide Gatherings collection? TODAY ONLY get 30% OFF select Yuletide Gatherings quilt kits! Quantities are limited so if you see something you like, don’t wait! We wouldn’t want you to miss out on your dream Christmas quilt. Click the button below to order!

If you love Christmas projects and don’t already have a copy of my Yuletide Gatherings project book I highly recommend it for you. It features a nice variety of projects perfect to celebrate the winter season. From stockings, to pillows, to star blocks and ornaments, this book has everything you need to complete your holiday decorating. You can grab a copy for yourself and a few for gifts by clicking here!

Please don’t hate me… I’m going to say it – Christmas eve is only six days away not counting today!  I hope you have your shopping under control and that things are going smoothy. I am proud of myself this year since despite getting off to a slow start, I think I have my list pretty well complete. Thankfully too, since I don’t have a lot of free time during the week and I’d really prefer not to waste it fighting with last minute shoppers. Not to mention, I just looked outside and the neighbor’s flag pole is whipping around like crazy so common sense is telling me to stay cuddled up indoors today. No problem there – that’s what blustery Sundays are for! I think I’ll make something hot and good to eat and maybe tackle some more candy and treats… After all, you can’t ever have too many goodies around the house during the holidays. Not if you’re a good mom and Mi-Mi, that is!

Alright gang! Enjoy the rest of your weekend. Remember that due to the preparations for our new website launch on January 6th, we will not be airing Shop Talk for the remainder of the year. In other words, we will not be going LIVE this Tuesday from the shop so if you try tune in, let’s just say you’re going to be waiting for… a while. LOL! Take care and I will see you all soon! ~Lisa

December 17th – Double Deal Day!

Oh! Hey there… I suppose you’re here looking for today’s daily deal. Great news – there’s more than one today… Here are the details! TODAY ONLY! Custom cut Farmhouse Flannel 6″ x 10″ pre-cuts are ONLY $20.00! As if that’s not enough awesomeness in one day, select Farmhouse Gatherings pillows are 30% OFF! Click the link below to load up on these easy-to-make, versatile home décor hacks. At this great price, you can’t afford not to!

You know how I love pillows… and these are some of my all-time favorites! They are all patterns from my project book Farmhouse Gatherings, so remember if you’re purchasing the kits and don’t already have the book, you’ll need it in order to get the patterns. This fun collection really never gets old. It features rustic inspired patterns in calming neutral tones. The projects not only include pillows, but beautiful quilts and wall-hangings as well. Plus, it’s a really great book to have for anyone who likes to hand-make gifts. Need to pick up a copy? Hit the link below!

See you all tomorrow with the latest FLASH Sale release (FLASH Sale details are also posted daily by 6:30 a.m. on both the public PG Facebook page and my STITCH Facebook group. If you are not already a member of the STITCH group, you must request to join in order to see the posts. It’s easy! Just answer the admin questions, wait for approval, and you’re in!). You can also find them by visiting our website. Click “NEW ITEMS” and then “Flash Sale” to see the daily deal)!!! Take care! ~Lisa